Mulder and Bablitz's first goals in the ACAC help Queens drop Broncos

Brent Forster – Red Deer Polytechnic Athletics

Olds, AB – The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Hockey team began 2022 on the right foot.

With a balanced attack of four different goal scorers, including a pair of Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) firsts, the Queens defeated the Olds College Broncos 4-2.

About midway through the opening frame, the RDP Queens captured a 1-0 edge on the power play. After a face-off win in the offensive zone, the visitors kept the Broncos on their heels with some quick puck movement.

Queens defenceman Jordyn McLaughlin received a cross ice pass inside the blueline and connected with second-year Madison Sansom at the top of the left circle. Saskatoon's Sansom quickly released a low wrist shot past Broncos goaltender Cheyenne Jamieson on the stick side for her first goal of the season.

Sansom (7)

The Polytechnic's lead held until 1:45 of the second period. The Broncos kept the puck in the Queens' zone after an unsuccessful clearing attempt and Keera Tiringer carried the puck in the high slot and beat Queens netminder Tanya Disotell-Dunsmore to even the contest 1-1.

Less than nine minutes later, the Queens regained their one goal cushion. RDP defender Kyla Hansel spotted Alli Soyko up the left side. Soyko, a first-year forward from Prince Albert, sent a precise pass to Natalie Buttle at the far post and the Bachelor of Kinesiology student redirected the puck into the back of the net.

Buttle (2) and Wallan (21)

With 1:57 remaining in the period, Jailyn Bablitz cashed in her first ACAC goal off a rebound that Jamieson couldn't corral. Brooke Skrypichayko took the initial shot from the point. It was Skrypichayko's first point in her opening conference game after dealing with an injury earlier in the season.

The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens went up by a trio at 8:53 of the third period. Rookie defenceman Kiera Mulder blasted her first ACAC goal from inside the blueline past Jamieson's glove. Kyla Hansel and Haley Kicia picked up the assists.

The Broncos connected on the power play with 2:13 left in the game to pull within a pair. With traffic in front of Disotell-Dunsmore, Hailey Hoogkamp found the back of the net.

The Queens wrapped up a 4-2 road win.

Terrace's Kiera Mulder was named the Queens Player of the Game. 

Mulder (5)

Disotell-Dunsmore turned aside 17 of 19 shots. Over three games, the Queens rookie goaltender has an impressive 0.67 goals against average and 0.968 save percentage.

Jamieson made 34 saves (0.895).

The RDP Queens went one-for-six on the power play. The Olds College Broncos struck once on two tries.

Unfortunately, Queens second-year forward Avery Lajeunnesse suffered a lower body injury in the victory. 

On Friday, January 21, the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens (3-1) will host the Broncos (1-4) at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre at 7 pm.